Archive for September 24, 2009
Raising sexist babies in Lebanon
““It’s going to help form a certain idea of femininity in their minds from a very young age, [one in which] women are supposed to be manicured and waxed… and this really is a social construct more than anything else,†said Lynn Darwich, a membe…
Posted on September 24, 2009 by As'ad
Obama Doctrine
“A top White House official told Jewish organizational leaders in an off-the-record phone call Wednesday that the U.S. strategy was to “quickly” bring the report — commissioned by the U.N. Human Rights Council and carried out by former South African J…
Posted on September 24, 2009 by As'ad
Shimon Peres evaluates the puppets
“I talk with Abbas and Fayad a lot too. We’ve never had better leaders to deal with. Fayad is an economist; he understands the importance of producing real results for his people.”
Posted on September 24, 2009 by As'ad
Saudi websites may be ordered to pray–five times daily
“While the debate on stopping all commercial activity during prayer times continues, one local online newspaper in Hail province has decided to advocate for this pause by taking down its site for 20 minutes, five times a day.” (thanks Ft)
Posted on September 24, 2009 by As'ad
This is Israel
“Testimony: Soldiers brutally beat Muhammad Id’is near a-Tuwani Village and Shani Checkpoint, Sept. 2009″
Posted on September 24, 2009 by As'ad
What do Iranians want? (Not based on Nazli Fathi from Toronto)
“Most Iranians do not want a nuclear weapon, apart from the question of sanctions. Fifty-eight percent say they do not want to develop an “atomic bomb,” including 3% who oppose the nuclear program altogether. However 38% say they do favor developing an…
Posted on September 24, 2009 by As'ad
Western governments really heart Tunisian dictator
“The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a Tunisian government-backed smear campaign against the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera satellite television station. The campaign has had a negative impact on freedom of expression in Tunisia. State-controlled me…
Posted on September 24, 2009 by As'ad
Canny puppet supported by Israel
“Fayyad has proven himself a canny political operator. In March, in an episode now often forgotten, Fayyad offered Abu Mazen his resignation, a move I observed at the time was most probably being done “for the benefit of none other than Fayyad himself”…
Posted on September 24, 2009 by As'ad
All that you have done to our people is registered in notebooks
“The Israeli police arrested 18 Palestinian female workers under the pretext that they were working in Nazareth without obtaining entry and work permits in Israel.” (thanks Olivia)
Posted on September 24, 2009 by As'ad
The Lebanese president at the UN
The Lebanese president is heading a delegation to attend the opening of the UN’s session. The Lebanese media are covering his visit. It said that yesterday he met with the presidents of Albania, Cyprus, and Guinea. But it also added that he met Pre…
Posted on September 24, 2009 by As'ad
The Dumb Lebanese government
This is a regular feature and I never run out of materials here. There is a daily supply of items. After the Lebanese commander-in-chief issued an official circular calling on all members of the Lebanese armed services to vote in an internet poll to …
Posted on September 24, 2009 by As'ad
Moroccan king flew his Aston Martin 1,300 miles – to get it repaired.
“Morocco’s Mohammed VI chartered a Hercules transporter from his air force to whisk the DB7 from Rabat to Britain.” (thanks Zaki)
Posted on September 24, 2009 by As'ad
Faruk Husni Mubarak is flying a kite
““For people in this region, her appointment sends the message that the West can swallow someone’s Communist past very easily but can’t abide an Arab who is anti-Israel.— He meant to say: that they can’t abide an Arab who is NOT pro-Israel en…
Posted on September 24, 2009 by As'ad
Zionism is racism AND sectarianism
“A pair of Nigerian-born converts to Judaism who were married two years ago in a ceremony conducted by a rabbi recognized by the Chief Rabbinate remain unable to register themselves as a couple with the Interior Ministry, even though the husband has be…
Posted on September 24, 2009 by As'ad
Provoking Muslims
“But foreshortening the historical context of the cartoons to merely the Enlightenment conceals the degree to which, far from being a bold and innovative defence of Western values, they are instead the latest manifestation of a long medieval European t…
Posted on September 24, 2009 by As'ad
Why you invaded Afghanistan: Western correspondents can now have decent meals
“But behind the blast walls, this city is flush with discrete oases, where one can indulge in a steak tartare or relax with a Swedish massage.” (thanks Nir)
Posted on September 24, 2009 by As'ad
Explusion of a leftist (female) student in Bahrain
“The decision to expel a student activist for circulating a leaflet highly critical of the University of Bahrain (UoB), the country’s only public university, has sparked criticism and renewed concerns about the ability of the country’s higher educa…
Posted on September 24, 2009 by As'ad
KingPlay Station just declared a national holiday
KingPlay Station is ecstatic. (thanks Dina)
Posted on September 24, 2009 by As'ad
Susan Rice: We remember Rwanda
“In his speech, Mr. Churkin noted sardonically that just a few months ago, on the subject of Darfur in Sudan, he had been lectured about how war crimes charges should never be sacrificed for political reasons, according to two diplomats present, and no…
Posted on September 24, 2009 by As'ad
Israel’s dirty hands
By the way, you need to read Jane Hunter’s book on Israeli Foreign Policy to know that Israel’s dirty hands were involved in many right-wing dictatorships in Latin America and Africa. Here is one fresh reference: “It’s been 89 days since Manuel Zelay…
Posted on September 24, 2009 by As'ad